Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st duke of Newcastle

Thomas Pelham-Holies was an English landowner and politician who was prime minister of Great Britain from 1754 to 1756 and from 1757 to 1762.

Thomas inherited the barony of Pelham of Laughton from his father in 1712, and by the time he came of age in 1714 he had become one of the wealthiest Whig landowners in England, with holdings in 12 counties and a rental income of nearly £40,000 a year. In 1715 he was given the title of duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1724 he became secretary of state, a post he held for 30 years. From 1754 to 1756 and from 1757 to 1762 he was prime minister of Great Britain.

At the time of his death his wealth was around £500,000, around £3.4bn in 2010's terms.